Spiritual self-care practice and mindfulness among patients with cancer: A cross-sectional study.
Asma Najmadini, Suad Dukhaykh, Wafaa Abed Ali Hattab, Juan Felipe Espinosa Cristia, Mansooreh Azizzadeh Forouzi, Mahlagha Dehghan
Palliative & Supportive Care October 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1017/s1478951526103745 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Descriptive correlational cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 600 |
| Population | Cancer patients in southeast Iran |
| Measures | Spiritual Self-Care Practice Scale, Relaxation, Meditation, and Mindfulness Trait Tracker (RMMtm 3.1) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Cancer Mental health Nursing care Spiritual self-care Spirituality |
| Key findings | Spiritual self-care practice scores were above the scale midpoint, and mindfulness dimensions were significantly associated with spiritual self-care: mindful emotion, mindful quiet, and mindful transcendence, plus income, underlying disease history, and disease stage, together explained 63.9% of the variance. The authors suggest nurses can address spiritual self-care needs through mindfulness-enhancing interventions. |
Abstract
To determine the correlation between spiritual self-care practices and mindfulness among cancer patients in southeast Iran. This descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of 600 eligible cancer patients. Data were collected using three instruments: a demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire, the Spiritual Self-Care Practice Scale, and the Relaxation, Meditation, and Mindfulness Trait Tracker (RMMtm 3.1). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, employing both descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including multivariate regression analysis. The mean total score for spiritual self-care practice among cancer patients was 3.17 ± 1.15, which was above the questionnaire's midpoint. Mindful emotion had the highest mean score (3.78 ± 1.67), followed by mindful focus (3.20 ± 1.57) and mindful relaxation (3.14 ± 1.65). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that 63.9% of the variance in spiritual self-care was explained by variables including mindful emotion (β = 0.321, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.122, 0.181]), mindful quiet (β = 0.213, p < 0.001, 95% CI: [0.065, 0.128]), and mindful transcendence (β = 0.163, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.058, 0.139]). Income level, history of underlying disease, and disease stage also showed significant associations. The study findings indicate a significant relationship between spiritual self-care practice and dimensions of mindfulness. Nurses can address patients' spiritual self-care practice needs by implementing the nursing process and empowering them through interventions that enhance mindfulness.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- Evidence of psychological and biological effects of structured Mindfulness-Based Interventions for cancer patients and survivors: A meta-review. Psycho-Oncology November 2021
- Mindfulness Training for Health Profession Students-The Effect of Mindfulness Training on Psychological Well-Being, Learning and Clinical Performance of Health Professional Students: A Systematic Review of Randomized and Non-randomized Controlled Trials. Explore October 24, 2016